Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina football was among those receiving votes in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, official national media poll released today by the preeminent voice of the Football Championship Subdivision. The Catamounts were the second team listed in the "others receiving votes" portion of the poll
 
It's the third-straight year that the Catamounts have been featured among the top teams in the nation according to Stats Perform. Last year, WCU was ranked No. 18 in the preseason ranking and held a 20th preseason ranking going into the 2024 season opener.
 
WCU was among five teams from the Southern Conference mentioned in today's preseason media tabulations. League newcomer Tennessee Tech was a SoCon-best No. 14 in the poll, with the coaches' preseason favorite to win the conference, Mercer, tipping the scales at No. 21. The Catamounts were the first of three SoCon teams to receive votes, two spots outside the Top 25 at No. 27, unofficially, with ETSU (12) and Furman (6) also garnering votes.
 
The AFCA Coaches Preseason FCS Poll has not yet been released.
 
Defending national champion Montana State is the preseason No. 1 team in the national media poll, collecting all 57 first-place votes. The Missouri Valley Football Conference has the most ranked teams with six, while the Big Sky Conference landed four, and both the Southland and UAC with three apiece among the Top 25.
 
The Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll will be released each Monday during the regular season and one day after the FCS championship game (scheduled for Jan. 11 in Nashville, Tenn.).
 
Western Carolina continues its preseason preparations on Tuesday morning with an 8:30 a.m. practice session in shoulder pads before working out for the first time Wednesday in a fully padded practice session. WCU's preseason football practices are open to the public. It is respectfully requested, though, that all spectators observe from the stadium seating area and avoid being either on the field or the sidelines for safety.  Practice times are subject to change.
 
Also, please note that construction on the Western Skybox and surrounding areas, as well as preparatory activities at the stadium for the season, are ongoing and scheduled to continue through early August. Some areas, such as the parking lots and entrances remain closed to the public.
 

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Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll (2026 Preseason)
(2025 Record in Parentheses)
 
1. Montana State (14-2, 8-0 Big Sky) - Points: 1,425 (57 of 57 first-place votes)
2. Montana (13-2, 7-1 Big Sky) – Points: 1,328
3. South Dakota State (9-5, 4-4 MVFC) – Points: 1,266
4. Illinois State (12-5, 5-3 MVFC) – Points: 1,231
5. Tarleton State (12-2, 7-1 UAC) – Points: 1,100
6. UC Davis (9-4, 6-2 Big Sky) – Points: 1,063
7. Rhode Island (11-3, 8-0 CAA) – Points: 1,048
8. Villanova (12-3, 7-1 CAA; Patriot League member in 2026) – Points: 1,008
9. Youngstown State (8-5, 5-3 MVFC) – Points: 946
10. North Dakota (8-6, 5-3 MVFC) – Points: 945
11. Lehigh (12-1, 7-0 Patriot) – Points: 826
12. South Dakota (10-5, 6-2 MVFC) – Points: 783
13. Stephen F. Austin (11-3, 8-0 Southland) – Points: 773
14. Tennessee Tech (11-2, 8-0 Ohio Valley; SoCon member in 2026) – Points: 594
15. Abilene Christian (9-5, 7-1 UAC) – Points: 579
16. Southern Illinois (7-5, 4-4 MVFC) – Points: 509
17. Austin Peay (7-5, 4-4 UAC) – Points: 440
18. Yale (9-3, 6-1 Ivy) – Points: 418
19. Southeastern Louisiana (9-4, 7-1 Southland) – Points: 392
20. Lamar (8-5, 5-3 Southland) – Points: 380
21. Mercer (11-3, 7-1 SoCon) – Points: 306
22. Monmouth (9-3, 6-2 CAA) – Points: 200
23. UT Martin (6-6, 6-2 OCV-Big South; rebranded to OVC in 2026) – Points: 144
24. South Carolina State (10-3, 5-0 MEAC) – Points: 107
25. Northern Arizona (7-5, 4-4 Big Sky) – Points: 103
 
Others Receiving Points (schools listed on two or more ballots): Idaho State (6-6, 5-3 Big Sky) 100; Western Carolina (7-5, 6-2 SoCon) 75; Harvard (9-2, 6-1 Ivy) 72; New Hampshire (8-5, 6-2 CAA) 61; Alabama State (10-2, 7-1 SWAC) 59; Jackson State (9-3, 7-1 SWAC) 48; Southern Utah (7-5, 6-2 UAC; Big Sky member in 2026) 27; Prairie View A&M (10-4, 7-1 SWAC) 25; West Georgia (8-3, 5-3 UAC) 25; UTRGV (9-3, 5-3 Southland) 20; Richmond (7-5, 3-4 Patriot) 15; ETSU (7-5, 5-3 SoCon) 12; Elon (6-6, 4-4 CAA) 11; Southeast Missouri (4-8, 2-5 Ohio Valley; rebranded to Ohio Valley Conference) 10; William & Mary (7-5, 6-2 CAA; Patriot League member in 2026) 9; Delaware State (8-4, 4-1 MEAC) 7; Drake (8-4, 7-1 Pioneer) 7; Furman (6-6, 4-4 SoCon) 6
 

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Western Carolina looks to 'Blackout Whitmire' as the Catamounts open the 2026 season under the new lights against Eastern Kentucky, with a 7 p.m. kickoff. In addition to the first 3,500 fans receiving FREE black WCU T-shirts, Catamount Athletics marketing will pass out 4,000 Blackout thunder sticks, courtesy of The Everson. Before the game, one of the best FCS football traditions returns as we celebrate the 15th Annual Freshmen Run, as WCU's Class of 2030 runs through the pregame tunnel to lead out the Catamount football team.
 
Also highlighting the jam-packed home opener, Catamount Athletics and Vannoy Construction present a special drone light show, produced by SkyElements, that will light up the western North Carolina sky as part of the festivities.
 
The home-opener is presented by Ingles and media partners Kiss Country and Star 104.3. Catamount Nation is encouraged to wear black to the game, and the team will wear its new all-black Nike 'Night Cat' uniform. Fans are encouraged to wear their black WCU gear to the game.

Both season and single-game tickets and gameday parking for all six home dates in #CatamountCountry are on sale now through the Catamount Athletics ticket office on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, by phone at (828) 227-2401, and online at CatamountSports.com.
 
2026 Catamount Football Preseason Practice Schedule:
Tues., Aug. 4 – Practice #5 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Wed., Aug. 5 – Practice #6 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Thurs., Aug. 6 – No Practice (Off Day – Film)
Fri., Aug. 7 – Practice #7 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Sat., Aug. 8 – Practice #8 – 9:00 am – 11:00 am (scrimmage, full pads)
Sun., Aug. 9 – Team Photo Day – 2 pm; Practice #9 – 3 pm – 5 pm (helmets only)
Mon., Aug. 10 – Practice #10 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Tues., Aug. 11 – Practice #11 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Wed., Aug. 12 – Practice #12 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Thurs., Aug. 13 – No Practice (Off Day – Film)
Fri., Aug. 14 – Practice #13 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (helmets only)
Fri., Aug. 14 – WCU Freshman Student Convocation
Sat., Aug. 15 – Practice #14 – 7 pm – 9 pm (scrimmage, full – student day)
Sun., Aug 16 – Athletics Welcome Back Event at Catamount Soccer – 12:30 pm
Mon., Aug. 17 – First Day of Classes at WCU – No Practice (Off-Day)
Tues., Aug. 18 – Begins in-season practice schedule – 4:30 pm
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (FB.com/CatamountSports, FB.com/WesternCarolinaFootball), Twitter (@catamounts, @CatamountsFB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountsfb).
 
Important Dates in Catamount Athletics & Catamount Football:
Wednesday, Aug. 5 – Women's Soccer Exhibition – vs. Georgia State (CAC, 7 p.m.)
Saturday, Aug. 8 – Women's Soccer Exhibition – vs. Wright State (CAC, 2 p.m.)
Thursday, Aug. 13 – Women's Soccer Season-Opener – vs. Winthrop (CAC, 6 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 14 – WCU Freshman Convocation (Ramsey Center)
Monday, Aug. 17 – First day of classes for the 2026 fall semester – Cullowhee
Friday, Aug. 21 – Volleyball Exhibition – vs. Anderson (Ramsey Center, 6 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 21 – Catamount Shootout Golf Tournament (Marion Lake Club, Nebo, N.C.)
Saturday, Aug. 29 – Catamount Football season-opener vs. Eastern Kentucky (7 p.m.)
Tuesday, Sept. 8 – Volleyball Home Opener – vs. Gardner-Webb (Ramsey Center, 6 p.m.)
Sept. 13-15 – Men's Golf – JT Poston Invitational – (Waynesville Inn & Golf Club)
Friday, Oct. 2 – Bob Waters Memorial Golf Tournament – (Sequoyah National, Cherokee)